Unrepentant love

The green going of the year
of faded gardens and falling
fruit That night I heard the owl
from within the woodlands
sounding its own solitude
in the deep darkness

Poems are made of sounds
that ring true in the silence
of our hearts and minds
How once I pronounced
her name with pride and
made of her beauty
a solemn sacrament of praise

How I longed to feel her breath
on my cheek her lips on
my lips : the winter cowl
wrapped around her neck
when we strolled alongside
the icy river and celebrated
the triumph of unrepentant love

John Lyons


Amour impénitent

Le vert départ de l’année
des jardins fanés et des fruits
qui tombent Cette nuit-là,
j’ai entendu le hibou
depuis le cœur des bois
chanter sa propre solitude
dans l’obscurité profonde

Les poèmes sont faits de sons
qui résonnent juste dans le silence
de nos cœurs et de nos esprits
Comme autrefois je prononçais
son nom avec fierté, faisant
de sa beauté un sincère
sacrement de louange

Comme j’ai désiré sentir son souffle
sur ma joue, ses lèvres sur
mes lèvres, le capuchon de l’hiver
enroulé autour de son cou
quand nous marchions le long
du fleuve glacé, célébrant
le triomphe de l’amour impénitent

Lightness of being

Lightness of being

Momentary in the mind
            a reflection caught
in the mirror
            or a sudden gust of wind
that nearly blows me
            off my feet

Portion control
            and the weight dropping
since mid-October
            16 pounds to date
nosing slowly towards
            my target
I walk on air
            a spring in my step
one less person to carry
            around

I catch buses and trains
            I might have missed
Love is immortal
            the flesh is not
Care must be exercised
            but life as the poet says
is a sacrament of praise
            the beauty of all good things
the interminable flow
            of the seasons
along with my breath
            along with my blood
The only strings attached
            are those of the viol
the melodies that arise
            in my heart’s chamber

John Lyons